Homeroom and the Test

Merlin sprinted through the academy's halls, his breath coming in sharp gasps. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, but that wasn't what unsettled him.

'I have no idea which classroom I'm supposed to be in…'

The realization struck like a brick to the face. He skidded to a halt in front of the reception desk, his sudden maneuver nearly sending him toppling over. A few passing students cast him strange looks, whispering among themselves.

Behind the counter, an elderly woman sat stiffly, her lips already pursed in displeasure before he even spoke.

"Good morning, ma'am. I'm Merlin Everhart, a first-year. Could you tell me which classroom I've been assigned to—"

"The First Room."

She didn't even let him finish. Without another word, she popped a piece of gum into her mouth and resumed chewing, eyes glazed over as if he no longer existed.

Merlin clenched his fists, shutting his eyes for a brief moment. 

'Of course, I'm in the same class as the protagonist…'

Dragging his feet like a condemned man, he trudged toward the door marked with a bold "1."

The hinges moved soundlessly as he pushed it open. The door swung wide—almost mockingly—as if welcoming him into his doom.

No one even glanced his way. Conversations carried on, their voices weaving into an indistinct hum.

'The protagonist will sit at the front… I should sit in the back.'

Suppressing a groan, he made his way to the last row and dropped into a seat, alone.

Then, the door opened again.

A tall figure strode in, his steps fluid yet unhurried, like he owned the space around him.

Merlin's stomach twisted.

'Nathaniel Varen—the protagonist.'

Nathan moved with effortless confidence, the kind that didn't need to demand attention. His dark blue eyes, cold as winter, swept across the room in a single, calculating glance.

Then, a wry smile crossed his lips, his kind of shy personality surfacing.

His gaze flicked toward Merlin.

'What the hell is he doing?'

Without hesitation, Nathan strode over and slid into the seat beside him, as if it had always been his. No pause. No second-guessing. Just an unspoken claim.

Merlin barely had time to process it before the door swung open once more.

This time, the presence that entered was completely different.

Each step was precise, measured to the inch—militaristic. It wasn't just discipline; it was as if an unseen force dictated his every motion.

Golden-blond hair. Amber eyes.

'Adrian Kain. Nathan's best friend.'

Unlike Nathan, he didn't scan the room. He didn't search for a seat—he already knew where he belonged. His steps carried him straight to Merlin's other side, and with the same unwavering certainty, he sat down.

Merlin stared blankly ahead.

'…Great.'

Adrian glanced at him and smirked. "Glad to be here."

Merlin exhaled slowly, resisting the urge to drop his head onto the desk.

'Just kill me now.'

And then, one by one, the other members of the protagonist's group arrived.

—

First came a girl—tall, chestnut hair cascading in soft waves, deep blue eyes filled with an elegance that made her seem fragile at first glance. But Merlin knew better.

'Liliana Astralis.'

Everything about her was too refined, too poised. She moved like a noblewoman stepping onto a ballroom floor, each gesture measured, each breath purposeful.

At the center of the room, she scanned the students, expression unreadable. Then, with a barely audible sigh, she made her way to the front row and sat down without a word.

—

Next, a boy strolled in, dragging his feet like he had all the time in the world. His short, dark brown hair was tousled, and his green eyes carried the perpetual look of someone who had already given up on life.

'Ethan Crowell.'

The moment he crossed the threshold, he suppressed a yawn and let out a long sigh.

"Well, another day of my life wasted," he muttered, plopping into a chair somewhere in the middle row.

—

Then came a stark contrast.

She walked in with unwavering certainty, each step imbued with a quiet confidence that was impossible to ignore. Midnight-black hair framed a pale face, silver eyes reflecting the light like polished steel.

'Seraphina Alden.'

Merlin's gaze briefly met hers, and an involuntary shiver ran down his spine.

She said nothing. She didn't need to.

Silently, she claimed her seat at the front.

—

The next arrival was more shadow than person.

He moved too quietly, his presence unsettling despite his lack of movement. Snow-white hair fell just past his shoulders, his deep crimson eyes sharp, unnatural in their intensity.

'Dorian Graves.'

He paused at the doorway as if sensing something unseen. Then, without a word, he strode to the front row, settling in with eerie ease.

—

And then, the final member arrived.

Unlike the others, she was no ordinary human.

Elara Vaelith—the only elf in the class—moved with a grace that didn't belong to this world. She didn't walk; she glided as if the air itself carried her forward. Every movement was seamless, fluid, an art in itself.

Her silver-blond hair shimmered under the light, dark violet eyes sweeping across the room.

Merlin stiffened.

The moment she entered, the entire class unconsciously straightened. It wasn't fear. It wasn't admiration. It was instinct as if they were standing before nobility.

'She's coming this way…'

Elara, however, paid no mind to the silent reverence. Without hesitation, she moved toward Merlin's row, her steps as effortless as the wind itself.

Then, she took the seat beside Nathan, crossing her legs with quiet poise.

With that, the class was complete.

—

The door swung shut, and a tall woman strode inside.

Long golden hair cascaded past her shoulders, and her hazel eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence. Her presence commanded attention without effort.

Merlin recognized her instantly.

'Vivienne Dorne.'

"I am Vivienne Dorne, your homeroom teacher from this day forward."

Her voice rang through the classroom, firm and unwavering.

Merlin muttered her name under his breath at the same time she introduced herself, but her voice easily overpowered his. Around the room, students instinctively straightened under her scrutiny.

"Let's begin with roll call."

She pulled a tablet from her bag and began reading the list.

—

"First—Nathaniel Varen."

"Here."

Nathan stood briefly, his posture flawless before he sat back down.

Of course, the model student.

—

"Tenth—Merlin Everhart."

"I'm here."

A ripple of movement. Some heads turned.

Merlin blinked.

'What's their problem…?'

—

"Twenty-first—Seraphina Alden."

—

"Twenty-fifth—Dorian Graves."

—

"And thirtieth—Elara Vaelith."

"Present," she answered smoothly.

Merlin heard many names he hadn't ever even seen in the novel before.

'The Extra's… worthless filler characters.'

With the list complete, Vivienne set down her tablet and clapped her hands together.

"Now, gather your things. We are going to go and assess your abilities."

A collective groan rippled through the room.

Vivienne's eye twitched.

Merlin sighed.

'This is going to be a long day…perhaps the longest day of my life.'

One by one, the students poured into a vast training field under Vivienne's lead, trailing behind her like a flock of ducklings. 

The open space stretched endlessly, the morning sun casting long shadows across the worn-down dirt.

Merlin took a deep breath, his mind racing.

The book's trials surfaced in his memory.

'A test of strength, endurance, and affinity…'

His fingers twitched at the thought. Physically, he looked weak—almost frail, even compared to some of the girls in the class. And unlike them, he had no idea how well he'd fare in these trials.

Especially the affinity test.

Even with the memories in his head, the original Merlin had no affinity at all.

'This has to be the system's doing.'

His golden eyes flickered.

'But how the hell am I supposed to use Space?'

A sharp voice cut through his thoughts.

"Start running laps."

Vivienne's command echoed across the field. She didn't give further instructions—no pace, no time limit. Just run.

Some students took off in a dead sprint, burning through their energy with reckless enthusiasm. Others, more cautious, started at a steady jog.

Merlin?

He also jogged. Slow and controlled.

'The longer you last, the more academy points you earn.'

It didn't take long for the sprinters to regret their choice. One by one, they dropped out, clutching their sides, their breaths ragged. Within fifteen minutes, half the class had collapsed.

Among them were Adrian and Dorian.

Merlin barely spared them a glance, focusing instead on his breathing. His shirt clung to his back, damp with sweat, but he ignored it.

Nathan, however, was still running.

And he wasn't just running—he was matching Merlin's pace.

'Copying me?'

Merlin frowned slightly.

Nathan had ranked first in the strength and affinity tests. But endurance? That was the only test he didn't win.

He placed second.

Merlin wiped the sweat from his brow, his legs growing heavier with each step. More students fell away. A few tried to keep up but crumbled under the strain.

Soon, only three remained.

Merlin. Nathan. And Elara.

Merlin's breath came fast and uneven, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to keep up. His entire body ached. His throat burned.

'The two monsters…'

Then, after a few more laps, Nathan slowed.

He exhaled sharply, gave Merlin a sidelong glance, and sat down.

Only two remained.

"Keep going, students—"

Vivienne's voice rang across the field, but before she could finish, Merlin dropped to the ground, his legs giving out beneath him.

Second place.

For a moment, silence settled over the field.

Then, quiet murmurs spread through the watching students. A few exchanged glances, brows furrowed in confusion.

Nathan, still catching his breath, turned to him.

"…Not bad."

Merlin wiped the sweat from his face.

"Thanks."

Merlin's voice was cold. Distant.

It wasn't enough.

He would surpass all of them. No matter what.

Vivienne's voice carried over the field once more.

"And the winner is Elara Vaelith."

She stepped forward, lifting Elara's hand in the air.

"As you've likely realized, endurance was the key to this trial."

A few students clapped, though Merlin didn't join them. His golden eyes remained locked on Elara, watching, studying.

This was only the first test.

'I won't settle for second place again..I'll do my best to Surpass Nathan in the other tests as well'

"The academy points will be awarded based on placement," Vivienne announced, her voice carrying effortlessly across the field. A small, satisfied smile tugged at her lips.

"Naturally, last place earns nothing, while first place receives the most."

Her words hung in the air, sinking into the exhausted students sprawled across the ground. Some groaned in frustration, but no one dared to voice their complaints.

"The final points will be distributed after all the tests are complete." She clapped her hands together. 

"For now, you have ten minutes to rest before we continue."

A collective sigh rippled through the group.

Some students wanted to protest—wanted to demand more time, to argue against the brutal pace of these trials.

But they didn't.

They wouldn't.

Because deep down, they all knew—

This was nothing.

A simple warm-up. A prelude to the real training.

Merlin exhaled, flexing his fingers as he stared at the sky. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, his muscles burned, but none of that mattered.

'It's time to give it everything I've got.'

His golden eyes flickered with quiet resolve.

'I'm here with a purpose, to change the story. I won't let that damn protagonist take first place.'